Jimmy Rogers was born James A. Lane in Ruleville, Mississippi, and was raised in Memphis. Rogers learned the harmonica alongside his childhood friend Snooky Pryor, and as a teenager took up the guitar and played professionally in East St. Louis, Illinois (where he played with Junior Lockwood), before moving to Chicago in the mid-1940s after serving in the military. By 1946 he'd made his first record as a harmonica player and singer for the local Harlem label, although his name was not included on the label — the record was issued under the names "Memphis Slim and his Houserockers".
Rogers joined Waters the next year, with whom he helped shape the sound of the nascent Chicago Blues style. Although he had several successful releases of his own on Chess Records beginning in 1950 with "That's Alright", he stayed in Waters' band until leaving the band for a solo career in 1954. In the mid 1950s he enjoyed several successful record releases, most notably "Walking By Myself", but as the '50s drew to a close and interest in the blues waned, he gradually withdrew from the music business.
By the 1960s he was working mainly outside of music, until 1971 when fashions made him a reasonable draw in Europe, and he was able to record again, including a 1977 session with Waters. By 1982, Rogers was again a solo artist.
He continued touring and recording albums until his death in 1997, in Chicago.
Jimmy Rogers (1984) - (Compilation album of some pre-1960 songs)
Ludella (1990)
Jimmy Rogers with Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters (1991) - Live
Feelin' Good with special guest Rod Piazza (1994) Blind Pig
Sloppy Drunk (1998) - (Compact disc re-issue of original album released in December 1973)
Blue Bird (1994) - Analogue Productions Originals
Blues Blues Blues (1999)
The Complete Chess Recordings(1997)
Sloppy Drunk
Jimmy Rogers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I would rather be sloppy drunk, than anything I know
Give me another half a pint boy, then you will see me go
Now I love that moonshine whiskey now, tell the world I do
Yes I love that moonshine whiskey now, tell the world I do
Now this is the reason why that I drink, I'm just trying to get along with you
I said mmmmh, bring me another half a pint
Well I believe I'll get drunk boy, and then we gonna rock this joint
Well I love that moonshine whiskey now, tell the world I do
Yes I love that moonshine whiskey now, tell the world I do
Now this is the reason why that I drink, I'm just trying to get along with you
I said oh, oh, bring me another half a pint
I said mmmmh, bring me another half a pint
Well I believe I'll get drunk boy, and then we gonna rock this joint
The song "Sloppy Drunk" by Jimmy Rogers is a blues song that tells the story of a man who prefers to be intoxicated rather than sober. The lyrics express the desire to be drunk on moonshine whiskey, and the reason behind drinking is to get along with someone. The main character sings that he would rather be sloppy drunk than anything he knows, and asks for another half a pint. He notes that when he drinks and gets drunk, he will be able to rock the joint and have a good time.
The lyrics suggest that the reason behind the drinking is to overcome feelings of isolation, to connect and relate to someone. The lines "I'm just trying to get along with you" indicate that the drinking is a means to an end, rather than an end in itself. The song taps into the popular culture of the blues genre, which often portrayed drinking and alcoholism as a way of coping with hardships and loneliness.
The song was originally recorded in 1953 by Jimmy Rogers, a blues musician who played guitar and sang with Muddy Waters. The song became Rogers' most successful recording, reaching number one on the Billboard R&B chart in 1954. It has been covered by numerous artists, including Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck.
Line by Line Meaning
I would rather be sloppy drunk, than anything I know
I prefer to get highly intoxicated, more than any other activity I can think of
Give me another half a pint boy, then you will see me go
Give me more alcohol, and you will see my wild side
Now this is the reason why that I drink, I'm just trying to get along with you
I drink to bond with you, to socialize with you and make you happy
Well I believe I'll get drunk boy, and then we gonna rock this joint
I am going to get drunk and party hard with you
Yes I love that moonshine whiskey now, tell the world I do
I truly enjoy drinking moonshine whiskey, and everyone should know that
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JAMES LANE, LUCILLE BOGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chrisivan_yt
I am from a different time but damn this shit still slaps 🔥🤘🔥
@jimmycalderon7504
This is the REAL DEAL, nothing even comes close to comparing This band with any top rated blues band today, you can almost imagine a fist fight in a alley outside the back door of some juke joint while little walter was playing this song in chicago. MUDDY WATERS TOLD ME WALTER WAS IN A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN !!!
@Lee.Higginbotham
Jimmy Rogers soooo underrated!! At Chess he was a sideman. At any other label he would have been the man!! The talent level at Chess was off the chart!! I'm Chicago Bound!!
@Lee.Higginbotham
@Mark Schultz One reviewer at amazon said Jimmy Rogers is a overlooked bluesman another said he was not as prolific as the big 4 Muddy, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson make sure you go crap on them too. They are reviewers on His Best.
@Katchasan
My sister worked for a Radio Station in the 50's & brought home tons of 45's. One of which was Sloppy Drunk. Thanks for the memory, man👍👍
@barrethansen2158
First recorded by Lucille Bogan in March 1930, and a hit for Leroy Carr in late 1930. Sonny Boy Williamson (I) cut it in 1941. Jimmy Rodgers' version was the first I heard, in 1958, when I hadn't yet had more than a few sips of beer. I've enjoyed both the record and the beer many times since.
@sayerma
Farrrkkkkkkkk Little Walter is on fire on this. The harp licks are spot on...probably my favourite era of his.
@kingoblackabilly993
yeah man! little walter smokes on this tune. all of it so fuckin tight and rockin for sure!
@mickeyshavivbigbadboogie4492
THIS IS NOT LITTLE WALTER - THIS RECORD ITS FROM THE 70'S AND WALTER DIED AT 68
@rippinesttown
this was recorded April 13, 1954 in Chicago, IL with Jimmy Rogers (vocal and guitar) Little Walter (harmonica) Otis Spann (piano) Muddy Waters (guitar) Willie Dixon (bass) Elga Edmonds (drums)